Impact of Mental Health Training for Frontline Staff Working With Children With Severe Intellectual Disabilities

Whitehurst, Teresa

doi:10.1111/j.1741-1130.2007.00133.x

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In line with previous research, our study shows that support workers play a crucial role in health support of people with intellectual disability [ 13 , 27 , 47 ]. Specifically, our study shows that people with intellectual disability depend on health support in everyday practice regarding 1) lifestyle choices and 2) identifying and following up health needs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

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Health support of people with intellectual disability and the crucial role of support workers

Nijhof,

Boot,

Naaldenberg

et al. 2024

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background People with intellectual disability have a poorer health status than the general population. In The Netherlands, support workers play a key role in meeting health support needs of people with intellectual disability. Research on how people with intellectual disability and their support workers experience the support worker’s role in preventing, identifying, and following up health needs of people with intellectual disability is scarce. To enhance health support of people with intellectual disability it is crucial that we understand how health support is delivered in everyday practice. Therefore, this study investigated experiences of people with intellectual disability and support workers with the health support of people with intellectual disability. Method Data collection consisted of six focus group (FG) discussions with between four and six participants (N = 27). The FGs consisted of three groups with support workers (n = 15), two groups with participants with mild to moderate intellectual disability (n = 8), and one group with family members as proxy informants who represented their relative with severe to profound intellectual disability (n = 4). The data was analysed thematically on aspects relating to health support. Results We identified three main themes relevant to the health support of people with intellectual disability: 1) dependence on health support, 2) communication practices in health support, and 3) organizational context of health support. Dependence on health support adresses the way in which support workers meet a need that people with intellectual disability cannot meet themselves, and communication practices and organizational context are identified as systems in which health support takes place. Conclusion This study investigated experiences with the health support of people with intellectual disability from the perspectives of people with intellectual disability and support workers. We discuss the dependence of people with intellectual disability and the complexity of health support in everyday practice. We provide practical implications that can strengthen support workers in the provision of health support for people with intellectual disability in everyday practice. The findings of this study emphasize the need for intellectual disability care-provider organizations to establish policies around consistency in support staff to make it easier to identify and follow up health needs, and an environment where support staff can develop their expertise concerning communication practices, lifestyle choices, and identifying and following up health needs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Physical as well as mental health issues or discomfort are expressed through changes in behaviour such as self-injuries, lack of appetite, or sleeping problems [ 26 ] . Therefore, identifying health problems of people with intellectual disability is crucial for timely intervention [ 13 , 27 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health support of people with intellectual disability and the crucial role of support workers

Nijhof,

Boot,

Naaldenberg

et al. 2024

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…The ability to identify mental health problems is crucial to early intervention, though little information is available in the physical rehabilitation and health services literature to guide mental health training options for their multidisciplinary teams. Whitehurst and colleagues (50) identified this gap in a similar population and created an inhouse, 2-day training program (including information on mental health diagnoses, assessments, interventions, etc.) offered to all frontline staff in a residential school in the United Kingdom Accessible mental health services are an essential component to comprehensive care, especially considering growing needs in youth mental health (52).…”

Section: Principal Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organization of rehabilitation services for youth with physical disabilities and mental health problems: A scoping review

Tremblay

Lal²,

Xiang³

et al. 2023

Front. Rehabil. Sci.

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IntroductionYouth with childhood-onset physical disabilities receiving rehabilitation services often present with many complex needs. Emerging evidence confirms co-occurrence of mental health problems in this population is common, and mental health is often overlooked during rehabilitation for chronic physical conditions. For example, symptoms of depression and anxiety are frequently present in adolescents with physical disability such as spina bifida or Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and access to mental health services is often limited. Addressing mental health concerns for this age group is particularly critical as it encompasses a challenging transition to adulthood.ObjectivesBuilding upon findings from a recent scoping review on the co-occurrence of physical disabilities and mental health problems, this paper synthesizes scientific literature related to the organization and delivery of services for youth with co-occurring childhood-onset physical disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy, spina bifida) and mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety).MethodsA scoping review protocol stemming from Arksey & O'Malley's framework and updated guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute was developed. Four databases (Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase) were searched. The search was limited to French or English peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2021. Articles included were primary papers addressing: 1) youth aged 15 to 24 with a childhood-onset physical disability, 2) mental health problems, and 3) healthcare service organization or delivery. They were screened by two reviewers and discussed with a third to establish consensus on the inclusion criteria and resolve disagreements.ResultsSixteen articles were retained from the 1,010 screened. Many (9/16) were from the United States. Two models were found: the Biopsychosocial, Collaborative, Agency-Based Service Integration Approach (including psychiatry in a pediatric rehabilitation hospital) and the Client Network Consultation (an interagency collaboration in mental health care for children with complex healthcare needs). Twelve key principles for service organization and delivery were identified and categorized into: collaboration and coordination, training and support, and delivery of care.ConclusionIdentified principles can guide improved service delivery for this population. Highlighted research gaps include the need for developing models of collaborative healthcare delivery and subsequently evaluating their effectiveness.

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“…Enhancing staff knowledge has demonstrated improvements in the quality of care they provide to consumers (Whitehurst, 2008 ). When staffs’ knowledge increases, stigmatizing attitudes about people with IDD decreases (Hampton & Xiao, 2008 ).…”

Section: Do Degrees Matter?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Degrees Matter? Rethinking Workforce Development for Youth with Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health Challenges

Reay

Reay²,

Tevis³

et al. 2023

Glob Implement Res Appl

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The global workforce crisis significantly impacts how evidence-based treatment is provided to youth with developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. Addressing the workforce crisis requires re-examining the long-standing methods of selecting individuals for employment based on academic degrees. This project offers an innovative workforce development option that provides specialized training to staff with advanced education degrees and staff with less education. The participants in this study were employed in a rural area of the USA within the mental health, child welfare, and correctional industries. All participants worked with youth experiencing intellectual disabilities and mental illness. Results indicated that participants improved their knowledge of the population, demonstrated a better understanding of EBPs, and were willing to employ evidence-based approaches regardless of their education or age. Although overall attitudes toward EBPs decreased, diverging attitudes increased, suggesting a need to accommodate treatment strategies when EBP models are unavailable for special populations. Initial knowledge gaps demonstrated by those with a master's degree and those with less education disappeared after the training. This finding supports the application of innovative task-shifting options in mental health, such as diverting more sophisticated care tasks to nonprofessionally trained persons, which can reduce workforce pressure and unmet demand for care. This study demonstrates cost-effective and time-efficient methods of training staff regardless of education by relying less on specific EBP models and more on adaptation.

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Impact of Mental Health Training for Frontline Staff Working With Children With Severe Intellectual Disabilities

Cited by 9 publications

References 15 publications

Health support of people with intellectual disability and the crucial role of support workers

Health support of people with intellectual disability and the crucial role of support workers

Organization of rehabilitation services for youth with physical disabilities and mental health problems: A scoping review

Do Degrees Matter? Rethinking Workforce Development for Youth with Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health Challenges

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